48 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS BEST HAIRSTYLIST FOR A SKULLET Erica Pappas at Dirty South Hair 223 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas instagram.com/dirtysouthhair Sporting a skullet takes confidence. Sporting one well takes a confident stylist. Luckily, Dal- las has Erica Pappas, a cutting specialist who is comfortable with the unconventional. For about seven years, Pappas has become well- versed in the art of rat tails, fang bangs and scene revival shags. Her Instagram portfolio is the perfect lookbook for alt folks trying to experiment with a dually freakish and fye cut. Pappas is happy to offer her chair at RAW Hair and Co. Salon to clients of all genders, hair types and levels of nonconformity. If you want your hairstyle to make a statement, al- low Pappas to ensure it gets people talking. BEST PLACE TO REMOVE THE MISTAKES OF YOUR PAST Renaissance Tattoo Removal 2836 Bledsoe St., Fort Worth renaissancetattooremoval.com While self-forgiveness is an essential step in moving beyond youthful regrets, advanced laser technologies can help you leave the past behind even faster. If your Friday the 13th impulse ink or now-ex- lovers’ initials have long passed their prime, Renaissance Tattoo Removal offers a safe and effective way to start anew. After a free consultation, Renaissance’s team will help schedule a series of laser removal or fading plans specially tailored to each client’s skin type, ink colors and transformation goals. Individual sessions are appointment only and range from $75 to $450. As Renaissance’s documented successes show, a few meetings with their Astanza Duality laser can leave you with less ink, less regret and a clean body art slate. BEST PIERCING STUDIO Wildlike 4218 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas wildlike.com Dallas has plenty of luxury tattoo shops, but the piercing world hasn’t caught up yet. If you want a tasteful hole in your body, you’re limited to retail shop lobe pokers and precision stabbers that work out of intimidating tattoo shops. But there aren’t many options in the middle, except for Wildlike. The shop, which offers navel, nipple, and nose (to name a few) piercings from certified piercers, aims to provide Dallasites with a luxury piercing experience that feels inviting and clean. The shop was founded by Alysa Teichman, who grew up under the tutelage of her family’s contemporary jewelry house, Ylang 23, so you know they have cute studs and barbells. BEST DAY SPA The Joule 1530 Main St., Dallas thejouledallas.com/wellness/the-spa Let us preface this by saying that the cate- gory is not the most affordable day spa; it’s the best. Our first trip to The Joule’s spa in downtown Dallas left us realizing that sometimes it is worth paying for the bougie option. The below-ground spa is serene and expensive-feeling, fit with eucalyptus saunas and pool jets so intense you’ll leave feeling like you extended your back mas- sage by an extra hour. The spa treatments are truly elite, the furnishings are Scandi- navia-meets-eclectic, and the hour of ac- cess to the sauna and pool you get before and after your treatment means you can re- ally make a day of the whole experience. If you’ve been looking for a real treat-yourself splurge, this is the place. You’ll leave feel- ing like a new person. BEST PLACE TO RESET WorldSprings 3240 Plano Parkway, The Colony worldsprings.com Dip into one of the 40 mineral hot spring pools at WorldSprings, and emerge re- newed. There is truly nothing else of its kind Provided by The Joule The Joule